Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to return from Delhi and launch the party’s annual Jan Sampark Padayatra on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.
The month-long campaign, running until November 2, aims to raise awareness at the constituency level about the alleged failures of the BJP-led state government over the past 16 months. This year’s padayatra will focus on grassroots outreach, highlighting issues such as soaring prices, rising cases of atrocities against women, fertiliser shortages affecting farmers, and the government’s perceived assault on the Panchayati Raj system.
BJD leaders emphasise that the initiative will democratically convey public dissatisfaction and position the party as the voice of Odisha’s people under Naveen’s guidance. A preparatory meeting was held at the party’s headquarters, Sankha Bhawan, to finalise the statewide rollout.
Senior BJD leader and vice-president (headquarters) Pratap Jena stated, “This padayatra honours Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, and will also pay tribute to great leaders like Gopabandhu Das and Jayaprakash Narayan on their birth anniversaries. We will inform the public about how all sections of society have been neglected under the BJP regime, including deteriorating law and order, unemployed youth, and farmer woes.” The campaign will be organised systematically across all constituencies, with Naveen personally inaugurating it from Bhubaneswar’s Ekamra assembly segment—a tradition he has followed in previous years. Party workers and leaders will then extend the yatra to various districts, engaging directly with voters to spotlight governance lapses.
Naveen has been in Delhi since September 7, amid speculation linking his visit to political developments like the Vice-Presidential election. However, he clarified on social media that the trip was for personal social commitments. Despite an 18-day absence, during which an assembly session concluded without his presence, sources confirm he will return in time to lead the padayatra launch.
The meeting at Sankha Bhawan was attended by prominent BJD figures, including senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra, Santrupt Mishra, vice-presidents Pratap Jena, Pratap Deb, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Uma Samantaray, Dibyashankar Mishra, women’s wing president Snehangini Chhuria, student wing president Ipsita Sahu, and youth wing president Chinmay Sahu. Some leaders joined virtually to discuss ensuring a disciplined and widespread execution.
This padayatra comes at a time when BJD seeks to regroup and challenge the BJP’s narrative, leveraging public grievances to rebuild momentum ahead of future elections.
